Billfold and the like



Mar-ch 30, 1943. B. sTEMBER BIL'LFOLD AND THE LIKE Filed April 22, 1942 "TQM/AEL. t

Patented Mar. 30, 1943 BILLFOLD AND THE LIKE Bernard ,'Stember, iSummt, N. I., assignor to .Basic Patents Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 22, 1942, Serial No. 440,061

(Cl. 15G-36) 2 Claims.

This Yinvention relates to improvements in bill folds and the like.

At the present time there lis a great scarcity o-f so-called Zippers or slide fastener closures due to the restrictions placed thereon by the United States Government because of the present demand for materials needed for the United States war effort.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bill fold or the `like with a safe and secret pocket of special construct-ion and which heretofore was possible by the employment of the Zipper or metal slide 'fastener closure.

It is a further object of the present vinvention to provide a plurality of Dockets in a bill fold in which at least one 'is a safety pocket capable of holding under concealment vpaper currency, valuable documents and the like.

It is yet another object of the present .invention to provide-novel non-metalliclocking means for closing the mouth of a bill fold pocket, kin such a manner that a secret pocket is provided.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a pocket book, bill fold or thevlike foldable in half providing two' superimposable sections With a longitudinal .pocket extending in both sections and a flap -in each section secured to one of the Walls and adapted to fold over the opening of said pocket and receivable in pockets disposed over the .other of the Walls, the flaps acting as closures for the longitudinal pocket in such manner as to `convert the said pocket into a safety securet Vor concealed receptacle particularly adapted .to rhold such articles as paper currency and other flat articles.

This invention accordingly consists in thefeatures of construction. Combination of parts and in the unique relations of the members and in the relative proportionin'g and disposition thereof; al1 as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, a drawing depicting certain forms of the invention has been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawing, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bill fold in folded position incorporating features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the bill fold of Figure 1 in open position and showing the safety Secret pocket closure flaps in folded operative positions;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, but showing the said closure flaps in unfolded or inoperative positions;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-'5 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I0 generally indicates the bill fold foldable or hinged along the fold line I3 presenting two similar sections or portions Il and l2. These portions include substantially identical members or elements, hereinafter set forth in detail.

The outer Wall I6 and intermediate wall er partition Il are secured together at adjacent longitudinal edges by means of stitching 26 forming the pocket 25 and the partition I l is secured to the wall I8 at its opposite longitudinal edge by the stitching 28 forming the pocket 24.

It is clearly evident from the drawing that kthe openings or mouths A and B of the pockets are at opposite longitudinal sides of the bill fold and that the intermediate wall I1 constitutes a diagonal partition secured to opposite longitudinal edges respectively of the walls I6 and I3. The outer wall I6 also constitutes the outer covering of the bill fold, extending as does the partition Il and wall I3, the full length of the bill fold including both sections or portions II and I2. These walls and partition may be made of any suitable material or materials and any of them may be single or multi-ply.

There may be provided in either one or both portions Il and l2, pockets 23formed by securing the respective strips I9, I9a to the wall I8 as by the stitchings 2l, 2th These pockets may be used for business cards, tickets, notes, papers, etc.

Connected to the ends of outer wall i6 are members 20, 20a respectively, which members may be integral parts of Wall I6 or separate pieces attached thereto in any suitable manner. The members 2U, 20a have their upper longitudinal edges secured to wall i8 by the row of stitches 21. These members 2l), 20a each has its free end 2Gb curved and form With the strips lil, ISa pockets 2.2 adapted to receive respectively the flaps 2|, 2l a connected or secured to the outer wall i6 by the stitching 29. These aps 2| Zia may be an integral part of Wall I6 0r separated pieces attached thereto. In either event, it is desirable to provide the stitching 29, which facilitates the flaps 2|, 2|a being maintained within their respective pockets 22 when in operable position, that is, there being no danger of their creeping out from under the members 20, 25a when the bill fold is opened to withdraw articles therefrom. The tendency of the aps 20, 20a is always to be urged towards the opening B. e

It is evident that when the flaps 2|, ZIa are in their operable position tucked under member 20, 20a as seen in Figure 2, the mouth or opening B of pocket 25 is substantially covered and the pocket made safe for securely holding paper currency or other iiat documents I5 and also concealed from view. To gain access to the pocket 25, it is necessary to pull out one or both iiaps 2|, 2Ia from pockets 22 under members 20, a. The pockets 22 may be employed further for holding cards, papers and the like and aid in the concealment of the longitudinal pocket 25, thus `performing a double function.

The pocket may be termed a secret pocket where valuable papers or paper currency of large denominations may be hidden from view, while other paper currency or flat articles I are made available for ready withdrawal from pocket 24 through the uncovered opening A.

From the foregoing it can be readily seen that the invention in one of its aspects comprises a bill fold foldable in half along the fold line or transverse medial axis I3 providing two superimposable sections II, l2 with a longitudinal compartment or pocket 25 the opening B, extending in both sections and across the axis I3 and formed by ppposite walls I6, Il, the sections II, l2 having flaps 2|, 2 la connecting with the outei` wall I 6 and adapted to fold over a substantial portion of the opening B of pocket or compartment 25 and receivable respectively in the pockets 22 in each section whereby the opening B oi' the longitudinal pocket 25 may be substantially closed; means such as the stitching 29 being preferably provided securing the ilaps 2|, Zia to the wall I6 a marginal distance from their meeting edges with wall I6 whereby the iiaps 2|, 2id are urged in the direction of the flaps 2G, Zta respectively. The longitudinal member I1 is intermediate the members IB, IS, the intermediate member I'I being connected at its upper longitudinal edge with the upper longitudinal edge of member I6 by the stitching 26 constituting the bottom of compartment or pocket 25. formed by the members I6 and |'I with the mouth B ol compartment 25 substantially at the lower adjacent longitudinal edges of members I6 and Il, the intermediate member I7 being connected atits l lower longitudinal edge with the lower longitudinal edge of the member I8 by the stitching 28 and adjacent mouth B constituting the bottom of compartment or pocket 24 formed by mem-` bers Il, I8, with the mouth A of compartment 24 substantially adjacent said upper longitudinal edges joined by the stitching 26.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a bill fold, it is understood that the same can be applied to other receptacles or containers of similar or kindred nature.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A billfold or the like foldable in half along its transverse medial axis providing two superimposable sections, a longitudinal pocket having an upper longitudinal opening coextensive therewith, said pocket and `its said opening extending in both said sections and across said axis, said pocket being formed by coextensive opposite walls bridging said axis, a flap in each of said sections, said flaps being hinged to one of said walls and spaced substantially at said axis, each of said flaps adapted to fold over a substantial portion of said opening, a pocket in each of said sections over the other of said walls and spaced from said axis, each of said pockets being adapted to engage at least a substantial portion of a respective flap whereby the said opening may be substantially closed.

2. A bill fold or the like foldable along its transverse medial axis providing two superimposable sections, and comprising three longitudinal members each having an upper and a lower edge, one of said members being intermediate the other two of said members, said intermediate member being connected at its upper longitudinal edge with the upper longitudinal edge ol' one of said two of said members constituting the bottom of a compartment formed by said one member and said intermediate member with the mouth of said compartment substantially at the lower longitudinal edges thereof, said intermediate member being connected at its lower longitudinal edge with the lower longitudinal edge of the other of said two of said members constituting the bottom of a compartment formed by said other member and said intermediate member with the mouth of said latter compartment substantially adjacent said upper longitudinal edges, said mouths of said compartment extending in said sections across said axis, a flap in each of said sections connecting with one of engageable respectively with said pockets where--l by the said adjacent mouth may be substantiallyclosed.

BERNARD STEMBER. 

